Any ideas as to what might cause an electrical outlet on the other side of the house to buzz/vibrate when I transmit? I am transmitting at 100 watts through a multi-band dipole mounted in the attic. Thanks.

I'd check the wiring and box on that outlet ASAP, because an ordinary electrical outlet should be a completely linear device incapable of turning any applied RF into sound. Something like a GFCI on the verge of tripping would make more sense.

With an ordinary outlet, I think you'd have to have a loose connection or RF arcing of some kind, both of which need immediate attention.

One thing that comes to mind is if you happened to have a resonant length of wire, the ground wire could be arcing to the box or something, just because the ends were at high RF potential.

What's the whole story? What kind of outlet? What's plugged in to the outlet? Anything?

I would guess that its a ground fault type (GFCI) in a bathroom or kitchen and that RF is being picked up by the wiring and conducted into the electronics in the GFCI. You **might** be able to replace the CFCI outlet with one of a better type. The only other solutions are to move the antenna or reduce the power output.

The solution to this problem is to mount your antenna outside and away from your house. If you live in a neighborhood with restrictive covenants, ask for permission to install a flagpole in your backyard. Use small gauge wire that your neighbors won't see and pass your coax up the flagpole.

I had the same happen here because of inadequate grounding. It was a GFCI on the verge of tripping because if RFI getting into wiring. Fixed the grounding at my outside breaker box and the problem went away. The GFCI was located in my laundry room and the buzzing sounds were only on 80 meters when I ran my Alpha.

If your home was built in the 1970s when they were using aluminum wire, the problem is likely a loose oxidized connection between the wire and the outlet screw. The screw may have been tight when the outlet was installed, but the aluminum wire tended to "relax" over time, leading to a slightly loose screw and oxidation on the aluminum conductor. Quite a few houses in this part of NC went up in smoke during the 20 years after they were built with aluminum wire. I recall tightening up quite a few outlet screws at neighbors houses back in the mid 1970s, when the outlets were making noises as you describe.

You could start first by replace the old GFCI with a new one. The current generation of GFCI's are less prone to RF interfence and I would second the idea of relocating your antenna outside.73MikeKB7STO

Hello from Reno Nv.. I had the same problem, with gfi and regular plugs, the new house i live in was done with very poor quality plugs, I replaced all plugs and gfi plugs with top quality ones and on the gfi ones i put a terrord snap on coil on the hot side and my problem is gone gone gone....It took awaile to pin it down, but when i tried and replaced the bad junk i think the builder got 100 of them for 1 buck each hi hi.. good luck..73 bob K7RNV

re your post..." I am transmitting at 100 watts through a multi-band dipole mounted in the attic. Thanks. "

Your electrical wires are running in your attic.

Your antenna is in your attic.

Your antenna is quite easily within close proximity to the electrical wires thus inserting your radio signal into the electrical wires. And probably, every buzz and click from every appliance in your house is getting into your antenna.

It is NOT a grounding problem. There is no reason at all to even need an RF ground in the house. A lightning and safety ground at the cable entrance is needed, but RF in the house virtually always comes from the antenna system.

Since your antenna is in the attic, that is how RF is getting into the wiring. The fact it is inside the attic isn't even the real issue. It is just too close to the wires. If it was outside the wall, but the same distance away, you would have the same problem.

Change the outlets or move the antenna a much larger physical distance away from the house wiring.

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